A stitch in time saves nine.

Previous generations were very clever.
They understood the world.
One or two stones come loose in the river bank.
At that point one man can fix the problem in a few hours, minimum cost,one bag of cement.
So the people in charge leave it for a year or two or more until there is a massive hole in the bank. Now it costs thousands of pounds to put right.
Wait until I am King of England I will sort these people out.